Beetdigger alumnus 'running' around the world, bringing good home

ByVERONICA IVEY Times Sports Writer

Posted:
09/27/2012 09:55:40 AM MDT

Updated:
09/27/2012 12:39:21 PM MDT

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Kevin Lee was once a Beetdigger, wearing the maroon and gold and quite the athlete.

Today he is still running and still the same 'Digger at heart. Only now he has traded in competing for school glory in meets and matches and has picked up running marathons for worldly causes, but Lee still wants to share the glory back at home.

This isn't Lee's first rodeo when it comes to running marathons, as he competes in his 12th marathon.

But this is the first one for charity, but the inspiration didn't just come out of nowhere. " I was watching a basketball game on television and the coach from South Dakota State was coaching barefoot, and I thought to myself this probably has to be from a cause," said Lee.

So he did some research about it on the Internet and found out about Samaritans Feet and the Barefoot Movement. He wrote to the charity, and people there helped him out with a lot of great information and enthusiasm about involvement. He just knew this was the cause he had been looking for, something that touched him and that he wanted to help make a difference in.

Lee has been a marathon runner for some time now but found this particular one that will let him combine two of passions, running and this charity. On Oct. 7 Lee will run a marathon hosted in Chicago, Illinois, and it will help raise benefits for Samaritans Feet, which is an organization that help provide shoes for the underprivileged through out the world and even home in the United States.

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If you were to ask him why this particular charity stood out for him so much this is what he'd tell you: "It's one of those deals where it's just my way of giving back, if you will. I do quite a bit of traveling with my job, not so much globally but domestically, and it's hard to believe the impoverished areas in this country," said Lee.

He explains that a lot of people do not realize that we have these issues right here at home, that some people don't even have the privilege of a pair of shoes. According to the Samaritans Feet Web site the Barefoot Movement is about people who have platforms or the position to help become aware of the 300,000,000 million children who walk around everyday barefoot because they cant afford shoes, and to help change this.

"The Barefoot for Bare Feet movement has been vital to the ability of Samaritan's Feet to collect shoes and raise funds for mobilization and operation. The passionate volunteers who make these events happen have been responsible for changing thousands of lives." -www.samaritansfeet.org

This is what Lee is about, using the his ability and position to just help even if it is "small steps" by running a marathon and allowing people to become aware, because it's such a easy problem to fix if everyone helps.

The Chicago Marathon allows runners to choose their charity, and runners have to be signed up months in advance.

Lee jumped on this opportunity and chose this charity, because of the problems right here at home. Many people don't realize that Americans living here on our home soil have to choose between shoes or food for their children, and millions die from foot borne illnesses that could be prevented with a simple pair of shoes.

If you want to help Kevin Lee in his endeavors or just want to keep track you can visit his Samaritans Feet Facebook page, http://bit.ly/SeX2Ws, or go to samaritansfeet.org for more information on how to get involved.

The story doesn't end here for Lee and his cause, as he wants to share it with his hometown, inviting people to be supportive but also providing some support as well. "I would like to do something for Morgan County, it's not necessarily impoverished but there is still a lot of people in need for everyday shoes.

"I've lived there my whole life and am proud of it, and I'd really like to raise enough money to do a shoe give away in Morgan County," said Lee.

Lee grew up in Brush graduating from Brush High School in 1981 and is very proud of being from Morgan County and would like to share the cause that's nearest to his heart with the town that's dearest to his heart.

If you would like to help, he asked that you contact him through his Facebook to get this going, through the Samaritans Feet Graham Gibbs Barefoot Movement.

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